The young life of Dericka Lindsay was cut short, after her cousin – who weighs more than 300 pounds – allegedly killed the 9-year-old after sitting on her! The Florida woman was charged with homicide.

Veronica Green Posey, 64, was arrested on Oct. 14 after she allegedly crushed her 9-year-old cousin Dericka Lindsay to death. The Florida woman sat on the girl as a form of punishment for misbehavior, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report (per the Pensacola News Journal). Dericka was reportedly “out of control,” prompting Veronica to use the young girl as a chai. Veronica reportedly sat on Dericka for 10 minutes – during which the young girl complained she couldn’t breathe. The 325 lbs. woman continued to sit on the girl for another two minutes after those complaints, per the report.

After standing up, Dericka was unresponsive. Veronica called 911 and then attempted CPR, but it was too late. Paramedics responding to the emergency call rushed the little girl to Baptist Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Veronica was then charged with homicide and cruelty towards a child. Two other adult relatives – Grace Joan Smith, 69, and James Edmund Smith, 62 – were also arrested and charged with child neglect. Grace and James were named as Dericka’s parents, according to the report. It was Grace who reportedly called Veronica over to her house to help discipline the young girl, per ABC News. Grace also told authorities that Veronica allegedly struck Dericka with a ruler and a metal pipe before allegedly administering the fatal punishment.

The nature of the girl’s death has send shockwaves throughout Florida. “Dericka’s death is appalling and [the Department of Children and Families] will continue coordinating with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to hold anyone responsible for her death accountable,” Mike Carroll, secretary of the state’s DCF, said in a statement on this horrific incident.

“As the family has a prior interaction with the child welfare system, a thorough quality assurance review will be conducted to review all prior interactions this family has had with the child welfare system,” he added. Veronica was released from Escambia County jail on Oct. 16 on $ 125,000 bail. Both the Smiths remained in jail as of Oct. 16.

Our thoughts are with Dericka’s family and friends during this time of loss.